DUSHANBE, October 24, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Committees and commissions of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) have completed consideration of the draft law on the national budget for 2012.

According to the preliminary data, the third session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the fourth convocation is expected to consider the draft national budget for 2012 on November 2.

Ms. Makhfirat Khidirova, chairperson of the faction of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the Majlisi Namoyandagon, noted that the national budget indictors reflected the economic and social development of the country and “I hope the PDP faction will support the draft budget worked out by the government.”

MP Amir Qaraqulov, who is also leader of the Agrarian Party of Tajikistan (APT), noted that the APT representatives in the parliament were still studying the draft law and they had a number of proposals on increasing expenditure projected for enhancement of the agrarian sector.

MP Shodi Shabdolov, who is also leader of the Communist Party of Tajikistan (CPT), noted that the draft law on the national budget for 2012 was progressive and practice of advanced countries for working out such documents had been used for working out the draft budget for 2012.

“However, the main problem of our budget is untargeted use of means and embezzlement of funds and relevant government bodies have still failed to establish a proper control over use of budgetary funds,” CPT leader stressed.

Representative of the Party of Economic Reforms in the Majlisi Namoyandagon, Mahmadsharif Nozimov, noted their party had sent its proposals on the draft budget for 2012 to the Majlisi Namoyandagon committees and commissions.

“Our proposals mainly concern increase in social spending,” said Nozimov, “I hope our proposals will be taken into consideration.”

Deputy of the Majlisi Namoyandagon Saidumar Husaini, who is also deputy chairman of the Islamic Revival Party (IRP), says the budget indicators are encouraging.  “Every year, we have to make many amendments to the national budget following government’s request,” said Husaini.  “I hope the budget for 2012 will escape that fate.”

We will recall that the government discussed the draft national budget for 2012 on September 30.  The meeting also considered budget indices for 2013-2014.

In a report released at the meeting, Minister of Finance Safarali Najmiddinov noted that the revenue part of the country’s national budget for 2012 will stand at 10.16 billion somoni (equivalent to more than 2.1 U.S. billion dollars) and its expenditure part will stand at 10.34 billion somoni (equivalent to some 2.2 billion U.S. dollars).

“Gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to rise 7.0 percent in 2012, reaching 35.8 billion somoni (equivalent to 7.5 billion U.S. dollars), and inflation for 2012 is expected to stand at 10.5 percent,” the minister said.

According to him, social spending will account for nearly 50 percent of budget allocations.  “The budget projects expenditure of more than 5 billion somoni in education, health care and social protection,” Najmiddinov noted.  The budget earmarks 3 billion somoni for implementation of strategic projects aimed at providing energy independence, withdrawing the country from communication isolation and providing food security.  Besides, 145 million somoni are expected to be spent on resolving the drinking water shortage problems in 24 cities and districts across the country.